For example, if you use the hashtag #workspacegoals, you’ll find photos from users all over the world showcasing their work space. You’ll also notice accompanying hashtags such as: #remoteworker, #officeoftheday, #digitalnomad etc.

2: Types of Hashtags

Objective: Highlight how different hashtags can be used to grow your brand.

There are millions of hashtags, from generic (#travel) to specific (#willtravelforpink) and it’s important to use those that will engage your target audience. We’re going to focus on five types:

· Location-based

· Industry

· Niche

· Events/Holidays

· Branded

1) Location-based:

Increases your visibility in a particular country, city, or neighborhood. These work best for local businesses, bloggers or travellers. You’ll get foot traffic in your store and situate yourself as one of the best in your area.

Tip: be specific with your location. It’s okay to use #toronto but include targeted hashtags depending on your clientele such as #torontocoffeeshop, #torontobakery, #torontohairsalon etc.

The #torontobakery hashtag has over 32K posts.

2) Industry:

These hashtags are usually broad. They’ll help you gain visibility amongst those in your field, and also help potential customers find you when they do general searches.

Tip: a lot of people use industry hashtags (#photographer has 71+ million posts; #smallbusiness has 10+ million posts), so only use two or three. Hundreds of photos are uploaded every second.

3: Hashtag Do’s and Don’ts

DO: there is much debate about how many hashtags to use. Some say seven; others say 30 (maximum amount). Start off with 30 and take it from there. If you're unsure or struggling to find suitable hashtags, aim for at least 15. As your account grows, you can decide whether you want to use less.

DON’T: use unrelated hashtags like #insta or #followforfollow. These hashtags are untargeted and usually quite spammy.

DON'T use #followforfollow. It has over 168 million posts. Your photo won't be seen.

Hashtags are essential for any business’ social media strategy. As we head into 2018, think about which ones you can use, and make sure you track engagement. This is Professor Thomas signing off (Editors note: again, she’s not a Professor) – see you next class!